Footwork training system and method

Abstract

A system and method for evaluating an activity includes an article of clothing provided with a sensor capable of detecting the impact of the article of clothing, such as a shoe, on a surface. A system receives and interprets the pattern of impacts made during the performance of the activity. The system compares these impacts with those of a target routine. Iterations of the same performance may be stored in the system so that ongoing progress may be measured. The system may be used to enhance class teaching, in the home, or for Internet competition. The activity may include dance, yoga, martial arts, or similar activities.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for evaluating an activity where a portion of a user's body impacts a surface comprising the steps of:
 (i) providing a target pattern to an evaluation system, wherein the target pattern includes multiple target impacts, body alignment, and target impact timing for each of the target impacts; 
 (ii) the user performing the activity proximate the surface while wearing an article of clothing on the portion of the user's body, the article of clothing incorporating a sensor capable of detecting a performance pattern generated by the user, wherein the performance pattern includes multiple performance impacts, performance impact timing for each of the performance impacts, and body alignment, and wherein the surface is incapable of detecting the performance pattern; 
 (iii) communicating the performance pattern to the evaluation system; and 
 (iv) determining a performance metric by comparing the performance pattern to the target pattern. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , the article of clothing comprising an article of footwear. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (iii) comprises transmitting the performance pattern to the evaluation system via a wireless communication link. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (iii) comprises connecting the article of clothing to the evaluation system with a wireline communication link. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 displaying the performance metric. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of:
 displaying a visual representation of the performance pattern. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  further comprising the step of: displaying the target pattern. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining a body alignment of a user as part of the performance pattern, wherein the user performs the activity wearing a second article of clothing on a different portion of the user's body, the second article of clothing incorporating a second sensor, the second sensor configured to facilitate a body alignment determination. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is associated with a shoe and the different portion of the user's body is selected from the group consisting essentially of a head, a neck, a torso, an arm, a wrist, a hand, a finger, and a leg. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 (v) storing the performance metric; 
 (vii) the user repeating the activity to generate a new performance pattern, wherein the new performance pattern includes new performance impacts, new performance impact timing, and body alignment, and wherein the surface is incapable of detecting the new performance pattern; 
 (viii) communicating the new performance pattern to the evaluation system; 
 (ix) determining a new performance metric by comparing the new performance pattern to the target pattern; and 
 (x) displaying at least one of the performance pattern, the new performance pattern, the target pattern, the first performance metric, and the new performance metric. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , the activity comprising a performance of at least one of a dance, a yoga posture, a boxing move, and a martial arts movement. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps are performed in a class. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps are performed in a home. 
     
     
       14. A system for evaluating a performance of an activity where at least one portion of a user's body impacts a surface, the system comprising:
 an article of clothing sized and dimensioned to fit the portion of the user's body; 
 a first sensor attached to the article of clothing, the first sensor being capable of detecting a first sensor impact and first sensor impact timing; 
 a second sensor attached to the article of clothing, the second sensor being spaced apart from the first sensor and being capable of detecting a second sensor impact and second sensor impact timing of the article of clothing; 
 wherein the surface comprises a performance area entirely devoid of sensors; 
 an evaluation module positioned proximate the surface, the evaluation module including a processor configured to communicate with the first sensor and the second sensor; 
 a target impact pattern accessible by the processor wherein the target impact pattern includes target impacts and target beats; and 
 wherein the evaluation module is configured to determine a first sensor position and a second sensor position to determine a user's body alignment; and 
 wherein the evaluation module is configured to determine a performance metric by comparing the first sensor impact and first sensor impact timing and the second sensor impact and second sensor impact timing with the target impacts and target impact beats. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , further comprising at least two additional transceivers spaced apart from the evaluation module and positioned proximate the surface, the at least two additional transceivers configured to communicate with at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor and to the evaluation module, wherein the evaluation module is configured to triangulate a sensor position. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 14  further comprising a display. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the article of clothing comprises a shirt. 
     
     
       18. A system for evaluating a performance of an activity where at least one portion of a user's body impacts a surface, the system comprising:
 a first article of clothing sized and dimensioned to fit a first portion of the user's body; 
 a first sensor attached to the article of clothing, the first sensor being capable of detecting an impact and timing of the impact of the first portion of the user's body against the surface to determine a first performance impact pattern; 
 a second article of clothing sized and dimensioned to fit a second portion of the user's body; 
 a second sensor attached to the second article of clothing and spaced apart from the first sensor, the second sensor being capable of detecting an impact and timing of the impact of the second portion of the user's body against the surface to determine a second performance impact pattern; 
 wherein the surface is devoid of sensors; 
 an evaluation module positioned proximate the surface, the evaluation module including a processor with a transceiver configured to communicate with at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor to receive impact and timing information; 
 a target impact and timing pattern accessible by the processor; 
 wherein the evaluation module is configured to compare the target impact and timing pattern with at least one of the first performance impact and timing pattern and the second performance impact and timing pattern to produce a performance metric; and 
 at least two additional transceivers spaced apart from the evaluation module and positioned proximate the surface, the at least two additional transceivers configured to communicate with at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor and to the evaluation module, wherein the evaluation module is configured to triangulate a sensor position for at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first article of clothing comprises an article of footwear and the second article of clothing comprises a shirt. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first article of clothing comprises an article of footwear and the second article of clothing comprises pants. 
     
     
       21. A system for evaluating a performance of an activity where at least one portion of a user's foot impacts a surface, the system comprising:
 an article of footwear sized and dimensioned to fit the user's foot; 
 a first sensor attached to the article of footwear, the first sensor being capable of detecting an impact of the article of footwear proximate the first sensor; 
 a second sensor attached to the article of footwear and separated from the first sensor, the second sensor being capable of detecting an impact of the article of footwear proximate the second sensor; 
 wherein the surface comprises a performance area entirely devoid of sensors; 
 an evaluation module positioned proximate the surface, the evaluation module including a processor configured to communicate with the first sensor and the second sensor to receive a performance pattern; 
 a target impact pattern accessible by the processor; and 
 wherein the evaluation module is configured to determine whether any impact of the performance pattern occurred proximate the first sensor or the second sensor. 
 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first sensor is positioned in a forefoot region of the article of footwear and the second sensor is positioned in a heel region of the article of footwear.